Eleanor Wellesley has lived with her father's neglect and indifference all her life. When Sir Edward Wellesley is killed in a card game, Eleanor discovers he has left her destitute, and at the mercy of an evil man.

One event. Twelve ladies. Four challenges. Twenty clues scattered throughout the castle. Winner wins the hand of the handsome Prince Derrick, and the throne to both the kingdom of Arnaldo and the kingdom of Hester. The competition is continued... With Hay-Lo out of the way, Evaina soon learns that nothing can ever be troubless. Sullivan, the queen's brother and the murderer of Evaina's parents, has been released from imprisonment. No one knows why, and no one thought it was possible. Even though Evaina was warned by the spirit of Sullivan's betrayal, she's still shocked. Sullivan is trying everything he can to get his name cleared and to earn the thrown. Derrick's been ignoring Evaina, afraid of her. Sullivan has gotten under his skin and Evaina knew that. Now Evaina cursed with knowing the truth about Sullivan, must fight to win her man, her best-friend, and the competition, all by herself.

Prince John's biggest fear? Becoming King, and everything to do with it, from the sheltered life, to someday having to get married. Celia, a lady knight, minus the 'Lady' if she can help it, is not looking forward to coming of age and attending the High Ball which she thinks is nothing more than a market for single girls. The two have hated each other since childhood, but when the stress gets to John and he does something drastic, Celia's the only one who can help.

Emily Weatherly was no gently-bred London debutante. In fact, she had thrived on the streets of London, a pickpocket and urchin, until Fate threw her lot in with the Weatherly's, a prestigious family who unselfishly raised her as their own and protect her from a heinous secret that could destroy her life. Despite this, she is never truly accepted as a proper lady, always scorned and ridiculed, and she vows to do her adopted family proud by making a respectable match with a gentleman of some rank and notoriety. Sebastian Weatherly harbors a secret that could thwart his carefully constructed bachelorhood. Indiscriminate rake, scoundrel and downright rogue, he has had to endure Emily Weatherly's presence for as long as he could remember. Now that she intends to make a respectable match, which he knows cannot ever be him as he is not respectable, he can hardly ignore the bitter jealousy residing in his heart as he is forced to watch Emily courted by various beaus.